Resource Conservation + Circular Economy | Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World

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Document

Global Environment

Indicators

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Trade

Monitoring the Physical Economy – Factsheet

Robust strategies for sustainable resource management depend on a solid understanding of the physical economy – the anthropogenic stocks and flows of matter and energy. MinFuture provides a framework for the description and monitoring of the physical economy using Material Flow Analysis (MFA). It distinguishes and visualises seven components, which are organised in a hierarchical structure (pyramid). This factsheet presents the framework and summarizes the project results.Read more

News

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Think 2030 Synthesis Paper – For a Sustainable Europe

Heat waves, droughts, floods - Europe was not spared from extreme weather events in 2018. To ensure that Europeans can still live a prosperous, healthy life in on a peaceful continent in the year 2030, the EU must take urgent measures to reduce resource consumption and pollution. The newly established Think2030 platform, of which Ecologic Institute is a member, has gathered 30 policy recommendations to this end – they are available for download.

Publication

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Water

Dem Plastik auf der Spur

Plastic in the environment is a global problem that is particularly visible in a growing volume of plastic waste in the sea. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has set up a major research focus to investigate the extent of the problem in more detail and to develop approaches to reducing it. Until 2021, a total of 18 joint projects with more than 100 institutions from science, industry, and practice will be funded with 35 million euros in one of the world's largest research programmes on plastics to date. In addition to the main areas of work, the authors of the Ecologic Institute examines the research projects in more detail.Read more

Event

Workshop

Agriculture

Consumer Policy

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

EU Policy Workshop to Reduce Consumer Food Waste

TimeLoc

19 November 2018

Berlin

Germany

Public campaigns and other policy instruments can significantly influence consumer behavior and contribute to a reduction of consumer food waste. The REFRESH Policy Workshop "Public campaigns and other policy options for behaviour change" discussed the findings of REFRESH work on consumer behaviour and policy recommendations with regard to reducing consumer food waste. Based on a detailed report and policy brief developed by the Ecologic Institute, the workshop provided ideas and inspirations for EU and national policy makers in designing appropriate interventions against consumer food waste. The workshop took place on 19 November 2018 in the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Berlin. The background report, policy brief, workshop minutes, agenda and presentation are available for download.Read more

Presentation

Panel discussion

Bioeconomy

Governance

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Bioeconomy: Sustainable and Circular

TimeLoc

7 November 2018

Vienna

Austria

Holger Gerdes

On 7 November 2018, federal ministers Elisabeth Köstinger, Norbert Hofer and Heinz Faßmann kicked-off the process for the development of a national bioeconomy strategy in Austria. A conference entitled "Bioeconomy: Sustainable and Circular" was organised, which brought together relevant stakeholders as part of an intensified discourse about the future of the bioeconomy in Austria. Ecologic Institute's Holger Gerdes had been invited to take part in a panel discussion.Read more

Publication

Document

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Water

Microplastics Analytics

Sampling, Preparation and Detection Methods

This discussion paper, edited by Ecologic Institute, presents the physicochemical investigation methods used in the research focus "Plastics in the Environment", in particular for the analysis of microplastics. Therefore, representatives of the joint research projects discussed methods and analytical approaches to identify validated methods and comparable results in the various projects. The discussion paper reflects the current state the debate within the research focus. It contributes to a pool of methods that are as standardised as possible for the relevant application fields in science, industry, and administration and is available for download.Read more

Publication

Report

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Macroeconomic and Societal Impacts of Mainstreaming the Circular Economy

This report summarizes the key findings of the CIRCULAR IMPACTS project and provides an impact analysis setting out impacts of circular-economy transitions on the macroeconomy and society. The results of case studies conducted within the project are included as are results from modelling done by external parties, accompanied by an overview of the methodologies used. This report thus provides an overview of presently available quantitative evidence on the macroeconomic and societal impacts of the circular economy. In addition, an overview of recent policy development on EU level in relation to the circular economy is provided, as are the key conclusions and policy messages from the project. Lastly, recommendations for future circular economy research are given, with the aim of improving scenario-based impact analyses for the European policymaking context.Read more

Publication

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Tourism

Spuren in der Arktis

Deutsches Engagement zum Schutz der arktischen Region

Since industrialisation, the average air temperature worldwide has risen by one degree, whereas in the Arctic by five degrees. This leads to rapid changes with serious consequences. This animated explanatory video by the UBA explains what this has to do with us in Germany, 2000 kilometers away. It outlines the federal government's commitment to the Arctic and what each individual can do to protect the Arctic.Read more

Event

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Tourism

Environmental Protection of the High North – How to protect the Arctic from afar?

TimeLoc

24 October 2018

Berlin

Germany

As part of the project "Environmental Guidelines of German Arctic Policy" funded by the Federal Environment Agency, Ecologic Institute hosted the expert workshop "Environmental protection of the High North – How to protect the Arctic from afar?" on 24 October 2018 in Berlin. The aim of the workshop was to facilitate exchange and discussion on how observers of the Arctic Council can engage strategically and practically in the protection of the Arctic environment. The exchange with states active in the High North, indigenous communities, businesses, research and civil society produced solutions for a sustainable development in the Arctic that allows for the reconciliation of a wide spectrum of interests in the region. The focus was on climate change and air pollution control, shipping in the Arctic and sustainable tourism in the region.Read more

Publication

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

Sustainability

Tourism

Für den Erhalt der Arktis – Flyer

Wie kann Deutschland dazu beitragen?

In this flyer, the Federal Environment Agency summarises the essential information on the focal points of the environmental guidelines for a German Arctic policy. Ecologic Institute was responsible for creating the flyer based on the Federal Environment Agency's design.Read more